SLINGER - During a high-profile race that featured NASCAR standouts like Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch, a local driver's quick thinking after a crash stole the spotlight.

Just three laps into Slinger Super Speedway's biggest night of the year, the number 75 car slammed into 21-year-old Collin Bamke's number 27 car. The impact sent both skidding across the track and into a wall.

"The driver is at the bottom of that car,” fans heard over the public address system in reference to Bamke. His car was flipped with the driver’s side on the pavement.

Moments after the crash, fire erupted in the fuel cell, and Bamke was pinned in his seat.

"I looked into the rear view and saw the flames,” he told TODAY’S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray. “It's about as scary as it gets."

Just 20 seconds after impact, the driver of the 75 car rolled out of his window to safety, but still no sign of Bamke.

"I tried to get out of the car and I got stuck. I had to calm myself down,” Bamke recounted during an interview Sunday night at the speedway.

Somehow, Collin wiggled himself free and emerged from the top of the car.

The announcer told fans "Collin Bamke's out of the car!”

Leading the crowd who helped pull Collin over the fence to safety, his own mother, Penny Bamke.

"When I saw her there, I knew exactly where I needed to go,” Collin said. "It was just an 'are you alrght?' type deal, and everything was OK."

Collin's anxious to get back behind the wheel. In fact, he said even tried steering a little bit on the slim chance he could enter the regular Sunday night races. Bamke is walking with a little bit of a limp, but it is the sling on his arm and the pain that keeps Collin from returning to action.

"I'm ready to go as soon as I can get my car back together,” explained Bamke. “I look forward to it. I love this. It's really what I want to do."

Most of Collin's beloved car is ruined. He told TODAY'S TMJ4 that other teams at the Slinger Super Speedway are helping him to get a car together so he can race again.